Communities Unite for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Montgomery County is preparing to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a series of events and service opportunities on January 19, 2024. Various organizations and schools throughout the region are mobilizing to promote community involvement and social responsibility through a range of activities.

The Wissahickon Faith Community will kick off the day with a solidarity walk at 3 p.m. at Wissahickon High School, located at 521 Houston Road in Lower Gwynedd Township. This event will be followed by a remembrance service at 4 p.m. at the nearby Bethlehem Baptist Church, 712 Penllyn Pike, Spring House. The service will feature keynote speaker Rev. Alyn E. Waller from Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church and a performance by the Enon Tabernacle Mass Choir.

Schools across the North Penn School District are also planning various service projects in recognition of Dr. King’s contributions. For instance, Gwyn-Nor Elementary School is collecting clothing, toys, and non-perishable food for a family in Jamaica impacted by Hurricane Melissa in October. In addition, Gwynedd Square Elementary will assemble care packages with drawings and cards for the Code Blue Shelter in Lansdale and Jenna’s Blessing Bags.

Students at Nash Elementary School will partner with Mitzvah Circle to collect gently used clothing, providing them with a hands-on community service experience. Each grade at Bridle Path Elementary will engage in different projects, including creating colorful posters, supporting NICU families, and assembling birthday kits for Liz’s Birthday Closet. The Kulp Elementary School student council is organizing an “I Have A Dream” activity, encouraging students to express their own dreams in alignment with Dr. King’s vision of community and kindness.

In the Colonial School District, more than 200 students are expected to participate in the annual Day of Service from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on January 19 at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. Community Relations Coordinator Jessica Lester emphasized the goal of inspiring students to engage in service throughout the year. Activities will include crafting bracelets for Make-A-Wish patients, creating an MLK mural, recycling t-shirts into pet toys for local SPCA, fundraising for the U.N. World Food Programme, and sorting donations for Cradles to Crayons.

In addition to school initiatives, the community is encouraged to contribute to the MLK Donation Drive, which aims to honor King’s legacy. Organizers will have drop-off locations across the greater Philadelphia area, including several in Montgomery County. Individuals can donate clothing, coats, and shoes on January 19 at designated sites including the Ambler YMCA and the Willow Grove YMCA.

For those interested in cultural engagement, the Center Theater in Norristown will host MLK Day activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on January 19. The event will feature a service project, scavenger hunts, and guided tours of a special exhibit dedicated to famed activist and historian Charles Blockson. A film highlighting Dr. King’s legacy will also be screened from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Environmentally-focused volunteers can join a habitat restoration project from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Riverbend Environmental Education Center in Gladwyne. The nonprofit hosting the event encourages participants to help improve local wildlife habitats by removing invasive plants and preparing sites for tree planting.

On MLK Day, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lansdale will conduct its fourth annual MLK Day of Service-Rise Against Hunger from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Volunteers will assemble packages containing essential nutrients for remote communities overseas, with participation encouraged for children aged five and older. Hatfield Elementary School students will also contribute by creating Kindness Placemats for the church’s community meals.

These initiatives not only celebrate Dr. King’s enduring legacy but also foster a spirit of service and community engagement across Montgomery County.